2012 Nike US Open of Surfing Promises Another Historic Week

After an unprecedented showing last year, the Nike US Open of Surfing® will kick off on July 28th in Huntington Beach for what has become one of the most anticipated surf, music and lifestyle events of the year.

Huntington Beach, CA (June 12, 2012) – After an unprecedented showing last year, the Nike US Open of Surfing® will kick off on July 28th in Huntington Beach for what has become one of the most anticipated surf, music and lifestyle events of the year. Title sponsor Nike – along with presenting sponsors Hurley and Converse – continue to elevate the event which will attract over three quarters of a million fans and onlookers along a 14-acre stretch of sand on the south side of Huntington Beach Pier, showcasing the best in surf, skate, music, and art.

"The US Open of Surfing is the epicenter for action sports culture. This year we will introduce the biggest stadium in surf and largest skate contest on the beach as the top action sports athletes, art and music talent hit the sand in Huntington," said Sandy Bodecker, VP Nike Action Sports.

The 2012 Nike US Open of Surfing will run from July 28 to August 5. All events are free and open to the public and can be viewed live daily at www.usopenofsurfing.com. With more than 3.6MM+ webcast viewers last year, the webcast broke viewership records and expects to deliver content to even more viewers worldwide this year. The event is owned and produced by IMG, the global leader in sports and entertainment.

Fans will see all of their favorites battle it out again this year in surf and skate’s biggest stadium spaces on both water and sand. This year's surf stadium and skate arena will take the competition to another level! Anchored by the world’s largest professional surfing competition, the US Open is a pivotal point on the ASP World Tour for both the men and women. For the men, a win at the US Open – a North America ASP Men’s Prime event - will earn them valuable points toward a coveted Top 32 world ranking. And for the women, the US Open of Surfing® marks the final stop on the 2012 ASP World Title Tour. With everything on the line and a close race for the World Title, the US Open will potentially crown a women’s World Champion in Surf City this summer.

"The US Open is the biggest stage in competitive surfing, and I'm excited to compete again in Huntington, where the world's best athletes come together to vie for one of the most prestigious titles in the sport," said Carissa Moore, 2011 Women's World Champion. "To compete in an arena with surfing at center stage is a dream come true, and I'm putting everything on the line to bring home the US Open title again."

“There is no other event like the US Open of Surfing. Together with Nike, Hurley and Converse, we have created the ultimate arena for athletes, musicians and artists to showcase their talent,” says James Leitz, Senior Vice President of IMG. “With hundreds of thousands of people coming down to the beach to celebrate action sports, the atmosphere is electric, vibrant and youthful. This US Open of Surfing is the epitome of the California lifestyle.”

From the water to the sand, the action doesn’t stop. Converse Coastal Carnage, a pro/am skateboarding competition, will once again host the most talented and diverse crew of riders from across the globe as they compete in a state-of-the-art skate bowl with ground breaking tricks for a piece of the $90,000 prize purse. And for the first time, Nike Skateboarding is hosting the Damn Am HB presented by Nike Skateboarding, will be featuring the world’s top amateurs showcasing their skills on the ultimate street course inspired by the best street spots from around the world. In addition one of the week’s most popular events, the US Open Music Stage, will host a soon-to-be-announced lineup of bands that will surely rival last year’s MGMT performance in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans.

Coupled with one-of-a-kind retail and brand experiences, public skate courses, movie premieres, 100 interactive exhibits, autograph signings, DJs and giveaways, it will be a summer to remember at the Nike US Open of Surfing. Be ready to dive into the madness starting July 28. Like the Nike US Open of Surfing on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The Nike US Open of Surfing airs on NBC Saturday, September 13, 2012 at 1:30 pm EST as part of the “Red Bull Signature Series.” Nike partnered with the Red Bull Signature Series on events including Supernatural, Lowers Pro and the US Open of Surfing, to support some of the most progressive and innovative surfing, snowboarding, and skiing action sports events. For more information, visit redbullsignatureseries.com.

About Nike

Engineered for world-class athletes, Nike Action unites the performance innovation of Nike with a deep commitment to the history, creativity, and raw athleticism of action sports. With a focus on Skateboarding, Snowboarding and Surfing, our footwear and apparel merge advanced materials and design with classic styling, driven by the voice of our athletes. Based at NIKE, Inc. headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Action is dedicated to inspiring and supporting the world of action sports. For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com.

About Hurley

“Hurley is a company based on inclusion,” says chairman and founder Bob Hurley. This philosophy applied to Bob Hurley¹s early years as a Huntington Beach shaper, working with friends alongside the world¹s best athletes to make a better surfboard. It applied to the company¹s launch in 1999, when Hurley decided to start a brand that was a true microphone for youth. In 2002, Hurley was acquired by Nike ‹ the largest and most influential sporting brand in the world. Inclusion remains a guiding principle of the company today, where innovative products like Phantom Boardshorts and game-changing events like the US Open of Surfing continue to redefine what is possible in our world. Hurley headquarters are in Costa Mesa, CA with international offices in Sydney, Tokyo, Barcelona and Bali. www.hurley.com.

About Converse

Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including lifestyle men's, women's and children’s footwear, apparel and accessories. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 63 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Media.Converse.com.

About IMG

IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.